Posted by The G on March 5, 2011 under G Reviews | Comments are off for this article

Photos of album covers by G.

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel

In the age where everything’s gone digital, Columbia/Legacy know how to appease the tactile generation. Here’s a brief summary of some must have recordings that are due for release in March 2011.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel: 40th Anniversary Edition. On March 8, this classic album will released in a 1 CD/1 DVD package that features the original album as well as a DVD that features Simon and Garfunkel’s historic 1969 TV special “Songs of America.” The documentary was aired on TV in 1969 and has never been officially released. “Songs of America” is comprised of footage of Simon and Garfunkel’s 1969 tour, intimate backstage concerts and historic news footage. Also included is a brand new documentary entitled “The Harmony Game,” which talks about the making of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and includes 2010 interviews with Simon and Garfunkel as well as the key principles in making the album. The 40th Anniversary Edition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” will be released on March 8, 2011.

Billy Joel - Live At Shea Stadium

Billy Joel – “Live at Shea Stadium” is a document of the final show ever played at New York’s Shea Stadium. The Beatles played the first show at Shea in 1964 and Billy Joel played the last show in 2008. The 2 CD/1 DVD set features the entire concert in audio plus a DVD of bonus performances. At these 2 historic shows, Billy Joel played many of his classic hits including “Piano Man,” “My Life,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” “We Didn’t Start The Fire” and “River of Dreams.” He had a little help from his friends and there are guest appearances by Tony Bennett (on “New York State of Mind”), Garth Brooks (on “Shameless”), John Mayer (on “This is the Time”), Paul McCartney (on “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Let It Be”), Steven Tyler (on “Walk This Way”), Roger Daltrey (on “My Generation”) and John Mellencamp (on “Pink Houses”). Billy Joel’s “Live At Shea Stadium” will be released on March 8, 2011.

Neil Diamond - The Bang Years 1966 - 1968

“The Bang Years 1966 – 1968″ by Neil Diamond. Collected for the first time are 23 original mono recordings that catapulted Neil Diamond into superstardom. Included in the set are the original versions of well loved songs such as “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon,” “Red Red Wine” and “I’m A Believer.” “The Bang Years 1966-1968” by Neil Diamond is released on March 8, 2011.

Top: The Ronettes, Darlene Love. Bottom: Phil Spector, The Crystals

Fifty years ago, legendary producer Phil Spector established his own record label Philles, and a new sound began to ring out of radio speakers across America. The sound Spector created lush, resonant, and dramatic, blending the sentimental swoon of string sections with the excitement of rock and roll was so different, so instantly recognizable, it earned its own name: The Wall of Sound. Through the 1960s, with songs like” Be My Baby,” “Then He Kissed Me,” “Walking in the Rain” and “Da Doo Ron Ron.” He ruled the pop charts and made artists like Darlene Love, The Crystals and The Ronettes household names. For twenty years, no new collections of these artists, have been released, and only a limited amount of the tracks have been available digitally. The newly remastered greatest hits collections contain the best and most iconic recordings by these artists. “Wall of Sound: The Very Best of Phil Spector 1961-1966,” “Da Do Ron Ron: The Very Best of The Crystals,” “Be My Baby: The Very Best of The Ronettes,” and “The Sound of Love: The Very Best of Darlene Love” are all available now.